LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONER. 



WASHINGTON, November 14, 1879. 



SIR : In accordance with the instructions which I received from you 

 when entering upon my duties as Entomologist to the Department of 

 Agriculture, I have the honor to submit a report of the investigation of 

 insects injurious to the cotton plant, which has been carried on by this 

 department. This investigation was begun July 1, 1878, and was con- 

 tinued until the close of the present season. 



The following extract from the annual report of this department for 

 1878 (pp. 210-215), gives the history of that part of the investigation 

 conducted by my predecessor, Prof. C. V. Biley. 



Pursuant to an appropriation by the last Congress for the purpose, and in accordance 

 with your instructions, I have carried on a special investigation of the insects injuri- 

 ous to the cotton plant. The commission of inquiry was organized by the appoint- 

 ment of the following gentlemen : As special agents, Prof. J. H. Comstock, of Ithaca, 

 N. Y., whose position as professor of entomology in Cornell University and whose ex- 

 perience with insects injurious to vegetation had well fitted him for such labor ; and 

 Prof. A. R. Grote, of Buffalo, N. Y., whom a residence of several years at Demopolis, 

 Ala., and a special study of the cotton-worm, had also well prepared for the inquiry. 

 As local agents and observers : Dr. E. H. Anderson, of Kirkwood, Miss. ; William J. 

 Jones, of Virginia Point, Tex. ; Prof. J. E. Willet, of Macon, Ga. ; and Prof. Eugene A. 

 Smith, of Tuscaloosa, Ala. Mr. E. A. Schwarz, of Detroit, Mich., has also been en- 

 gaged during the winter to visit all the Southern States and the West India islands, 

 with a special view of getting at the facts of hibernation. To Prof. Comstock was as- 

 signed the cotton region of Arkansas and Tennessee, and of Mississippi and Alabama 

 north of Vicksburg and Meridian and the Alabama Central Railroad ; to Mr. Grote that 

 of Florida and Georgia, and of Alabama south of the railroad mentioned ; while, with the 

 assistance of the local observers, I have myself given more especial attention to the ex- 

 tremities of the belt, viz, Texas, Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, and the Carolinas. 



The following circular-letter was prepared for the use of agents, and distributed, 

 with corresponding blanks, to correspondents in the cotton belt. It will explain the 

 scope of the inquiry : 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



Washington, D. C., July 22, 1878. 



SIR : The entomologist of the department having prepared a series of inquiries for 

 the special scientific observers to whom has been assigned the duty of studying the 

 history and depredation of the worm known as Alelia argillacea, as well as other in- 

 sects which injure the cotton plant, I have caused copies of these circulars to be printed 

 and sent you, in hope that you may feel interest enough in the subject to make report 

 thereon. 



Should you do so, please observe carefully the following suggestions : 



Write only on one side of the paper blanks sent; and, if more room is desired to an- 

 swer fully, write on another sheet, numbering and lettering to correspond with letter 

 and number of question. 



If any special points arise before the termination of the season, please communicate 

 freely, marking your envelope "cotton insects." 

 Respectfully, &c., 



WM. G. LE DUC, Commissioner. 



